5 talking points...

Thought I'd have a bash at the '5 talking points' style articles that you see in the press.

Not over thinking it so apologies if littered with mistakes.


1. Mahrez Mystery

Perhaps it isn't really a mystery why Mahrez's form has limped away with only the odd glimmer of hope, since our Premier League winning season. Kante provided the cover of two players and Mahrez was seen as an indulgent free spirit who we could afford to compensate for in the team- and as a result, reaped the benefits of his class. Fast forward a year or so and he is a luxury in a team that just can't afford to be one man down on the defensive. Yesterday he was selfish and lazy. I can't think of any reason ethically, after a reasonable cameo by Gray, why he should start next week.

2. Albrighton Assemble!

Not that an under par week or two should have been enough to start doubting him, but what a way to show what a player should do when asked to play as a 'winger' Mr Mahrez. Albrighton wasn't world class going forward, but he had endeavour and fight and must be loved by the full backs at our club - some brilliant tracking back and defensive work.

3. Harry's howler

Now admittedly, Maguire absolutely bombed it back to try to regain the defensive line and there certainly should be question marks over why he managed to overlap other players who could have covered for him, but why!? I admire a player who looks to bring it out of defense every now and again, Morgan has the odd moment and that's fine. But it's time and time again and actually, whilst he isn't terrible on the ball, I don't think he is as good as he thinks and....YOU'RE A DEFENDER HARRY!

4. Referees and their minions

It is just week in week out now. This isn't me moaning saying how hard done we were as there were poor decisions all over the shop, but every aspect of football is advancing so much apart from one thing, to the point that it makes referees look like they are actually regressing.

5. On the horizon

We've won the game we should have, drew the game we should have and lost to all the teams we were probably expected to...I said this a week or so ago and it still is probably true. But eventually not getting at least a point here or there against the 'bigger teams' is going to put a lot of pressure on getting wins in the other games. It is still early doors, but we now have a three or four games on the bounce where 2 or 3 victories is going to be expected. I'm quite looking forward to this next four weeks as it will really allow us to see where we are (both in terms of results against teams we should at least categorically be competing with and in terms of games played and league standing). Come the Man City fixture, we will have a much better idea of how 'unlucky' or not we've been in games like Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, etc (it's a lot easier to say we are only losing to the big teams, when we've only been in a position to have lost to the big teams).